2019 Spring Cascadia PTA Budget Survey

As we look forward to the 2019-2020 school year, we are working on next year's budget, and we would like your input. The results of this survey, along with input from the Building Leadership Team (BLT) will help us to decide how the PTA can best support our students next year.

We appreciate you taking time to complete this survey and sharing your priorities with us. The survey will be open until March 16.

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1.What grade are your Cascadia students currently in? (Please select all that apply.)

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

Teacher/Staff

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2.Are you a Cascadia PTA member (i.e., you’ve paid dues for the current year)?

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4.This year, the Cascadia PTA sponsored three large events (Fall Festival, Winter Festival, Science & Engineering Night). We are considering moving to two events (Fall Festival, Science & Engineering in the spring) in favor of more frequent events such as game nights, movie nights, book club meetings. Do you support this idea?

Yes. More frequent events would be nice.

No. These big events are too important.

Other (please specify)

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5.Do you have any suggestions for events (large or small)?

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6.How do you feel about the current level of communication from Cascadia PTA?

Too much

Just enough

Too little

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7.How do you prefer to receive information from the Cascadia PTA? (check all that apply)

Email

Kid Mail (materials sent home with kids)

Dragon Digest (weekly email newsletter)

Cascadia PTA website (cascadiapta.org)

General PTA meetings (in 2018-2019 we will have had 3 general meetings)

Other (please specify)

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8.How clearly do you understand where Cascadia PTA funds are spent?

I feel very clear about where Cascadia PTA funds are spent.

I feel somewhat clear about where Cascadia PTA funds are spent.

I do not feel clear about where Cascadia PTA funds are spent, butI trust PTA leadership to disperse funds appropriately.

I do not feel clear about where Cascadia PTA funds are spent.

Comment or question about where Cascade PTA funds are spent.

For the following questions, please consider that the 2018-2019 Cascadia PTA budget correlated to a fundraising goal of about $524 per student.

This budget provided funding for salary support. Approximately 67% was used to increase librarian hours from 2.5 days to 4 days per week, provide a counselor for 4 days per week, increase instrumental music from half a day to 3.5 days per week, and provide recess aides every day. Another 18% of our budget went to fund programs like STYLE, garden, and professional development. Finally, about 8% of the PTA budget went towards community events like our Science & Engineering Night, grade-level events, parent-ed nights, and other social opportunities.

Without PTA funding Cascadia will not have a counselor, recess aides, or programs like STYLE and the garden. Evening events would be scaled back, as would material support to our educators.

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9.In 2018-2019 the Cascadia PTA budget correlated to a fund-raising goal of $524 per student, and provided salary support, program support, and community events.

How do you feel about this fund-raising goal?

I feel the fundraising goal is too high. Salary spending should be reduced in order to make a large reduction in the fundraising goal. I am aware the district will not be able to fund these positions if the PTA does not choose to do so.

I feel the fundraising goal is a bit high, and would like to see the PTA make small adjustments for a small reduction in the fundraising goal.

I believe the fund-raising goal is about correct.

I would prefer to increase our fund-raising goal and have the PTA provide more support.

Other (please specify)

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10.Cascadia PTA has funded critical staff positions as requested by Cascadia's Building Leadership Team. In 2018-2019 that provided additional librarian hours, a counselor, instrumental music instruction, and playground supervisors. The Cascadia BLT has recommended continuing with similar funding next year.

Do you agree that Cascadia PTA dollars should be used to fund these types of positions?

I strongly agree: the PTA should fund these positions.

I somewhat agree.

I'm neutral.

I somewhat disagree.

I strongly disagree: the PTA should never fund these positions.

Comments about using PTA dollars to fund positions.

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11.Cascadia PTA is considering renewing allocation of funds in the following areas. Thinking about these categories, please rank in order of importance to you and your family. (Please rank in order of Most Important to Least Important, with 1 being Most Important.)

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12.Is there anything else you would like Cascadia PTA to consider funding in 2019-2020? If so, please comment.

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13.Our family plans to donate the following amount to the PTA in 2019-2020

$600+

$500-$599

$400-$499

$300-$399

$200-$299

$0-$199

Other (please specify)

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14.In recent years the Cascadia PTA has raised most of its funding in one direct ask campaign (the Red Envelope campaign), and avoided other forms of fund-raising. How do you feel about this approach?

I prefer having one direct-ask campaign.

I like having one direct-ask campaign, but support increasing passive fundraising (Amazon Smile, spirit-wear proceeds)

I prefer having multiple fund-raisers that use different approaches.

I'd prefer a different method of fund-raising (please specify)

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15.Do you have any suggestions how Cascadia PTA could better represent the interests or needs of you or your student(s)? If so, please comment.

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16.Are you interested in volunteering with the PTA this next year?

Yes

No

Maybe

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17.If Yes/Maybe, what role interests you? Check all that apply. (Please submit your contact information at the end of the survey, and a PTA member will contact you regarding next year's opportunities.)

Cascadia PTA Board Position

Event Lead Coordinator

Room Parent

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18.(Optional) If you indicated that you would like someone to contact you, please include your information below:

Name

Email Address

Phone Number

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19.Do you feel welcome as a volunteer at Cascadia or at PTA-sponsored events?

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Seldom

Never

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20.Our programs depend on volunteers. What can the Cascadia PTA do to make volunteering more welcoming for you?